The Panthers May Be Headed Toward Perfection

This was supposed to be just another good season for the Carolina Panthers. The defense was going to be good, as usual, and the offense looked balanced and respectable. Suddenly, the campaign has taken another turn. The Panthers have veered off in a direction that no one envisioned. The Panthers aren’t just winning games, they’re dominating teams. The Panthers are no joke and may be headed toward perfection.

After getting the national stage for a Thanksgiving Day showdown against the Dallas Cowboys, they proceeded to embarrass America’s Team and beat them like a dirty rug. The Panthers defense swarmed a battered Tony Romo like Black and Blue bees. The Carolina color splash uniforms must have looked like a blue haze to the struggling quarterback.

Not only did the Panthers score on offense, the defense proved that it could play with a chip on its shoulder and get into the end zone. Romo was victimized for two pick-six swipes by the amped up Panthers defense. Carolina took the Turkey Day stage and turned it into feast. With five games left, the Panthers may be headed for a perfect season.

The wins are coming with ease. Teams that are supposed to beat the Panthers are dropping like flies.

But, as good as the Panthers (11-0) are, they haven’t combined a perfect game with their perfect record. Head coach Mike Rivera was quick to point out the flaws via ESPN.

“We’ve got a lot of things to improve on. We’ve got a ways to go,” Rivera explained. “You can’t have penalties like we’ve had penalties. You can’t miss blocks like we’ve missed blocks. You can’t run the wrong route when you’re supposed to go somewhere else.”

For most teams basking in the glow of perfection, those would seem to be minute problems that don’t matter. However, the Panthers coaching staff understands what lies beyond the surface. Even though the wins are wonderful, one slip-up that leads to a loss will bring out the haters and skeptical analysts who have eased out of sight.

Putting the hatred and disrespect aside, the Panthers are one of the most completely balanced teams in the NFL at the given moment. Defensively, the Panthers fall into the top 10, in most of the key areas. Offensively, the Carolina Panthers are ranked No. 2 in the league. That puts them ahead of the New England Patriots who chime in at the No. 3 spot.

The Panthers will be playing for pride. They are still being disrespected by teams that don’t prepare well for them and analysts who think the year is a fluke. Cornerback Josh Norman called out Skip Bayless for picking the Cowboys over the Panthers and vowed to address others.

?@RealSkipBayless ???? & No you where not The only one. Trust.
They'll get theirs come Sunday?

— *Joshua R. Norman (@J_No24) November 27, 2015

Bayless responded and admitted that he was ‘eating crow’ for his bold prediction. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The lack of respect for the Panthers’ franchise runs deep. Less than 11 years ago, the Panthers played in Super Bowl XXXVIII. In just their ninth year of existence, the Panthers went from 1-15 to a championship battle with the Patriots. Two teams that seem to be on a collision course for another matchup.

The Panthers’ remaining opponents have a winning percentage of.520 (26-24). That includes two games against the Falcons (6-4), the only team left on the schedule with a winning record. New England’s six upcoming opponents have a winning percentage of.459 (28-33). Like Carolina, the Patriots’ schedule includes only one team above.500, the Broncos.

The Panthers schedule offers the better chance at perfection, since the Falcons seem to be slipping. Meanwhile, the Patriots have to travel to Denver for a Mile High battle on Sunday Night Football. The game is not an easy one. Denver needs a win to help secure playoff seeding.

The road to perfection looks possible for the Panthers. But, on any given day, anything is possible.

[Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images]